Inverter heat-dissipation device and inverter

ABSTRACT

An inverter heat-dissipation device and an inverter are provided. The inverter heat-dissipation device includes a centrifugal fan, a first heat radiator, a second heat radiator and an air channel. A first air outlet is arranged at one end of the air channel and a second air outlet is arranged at the other end of the air channel. The first heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is in communication with the first air outlet. The second heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is in communication with the second air outlet. The centrifugal fan is arranged in the air channel and is disposed between the first heat radiator and the second heat radiator. An air inlet matching the centrifugal fan in size is arranged on the air channel. A first opening is arranged on the air channel; and a second opening is arranged on the air channel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent ApplicationNo. 201410508020.X, entitled “INVERTER HEAT-DISSIPATION DEVICE ANDINVERTER”, filed on Sep. 28, 2014 with the State Intellectual PropertyOffice of the PRC, the disclosure of which being incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of inverter, andin particular to an inverter heat-dissipation device and an inverter.

BACKGROUND

An air-cooled inverter generally dissipates heat via a unidirectionalstraight-through air channel which has an air inlet at one end and anair outlet at the other end as shown in FIG. 1. An axial fan istypically located at the air inlet of the air channel. Cold air is blowninto the air channel by the axial fan, and the air flows through a firstheat radiator and a second heat radiator for heat exchange. After theheat exchange, hot air flows out through the air outlet of the airchannel, thereby achieving “the pulling-air cooling”. Practically, theaxial fan may be located at the air outlet of the air channel, forachieving “the drawing-air cooling”.

Since at least two heat radiators are provided in the unidirectionalstraight-through air channel, a length of the unidirectionalstraight-through air channel (a distance from the air inlet to the airoutlet) is long, which results in a great pressure loss along theunidirectional straight-through air channel and a heavy load on the fan,thereby reducing the service life of the fan.

The heat radiators in the unidirectional straight-through air channelare typically located at an upstream position and a downstream positionin a flowing direction of an air flow. Air flowing through the upstreamheat radiator is cold air, and most of air flowing through thedownstream heat radiator is hot air discharged from the upstream heatradiator. Thus, the downstream heat radiator does not dissipate heatwell. As the hot air continuously flows through the downstream heatradiator, the heat-dissipation effect of the downstream heat radiatorbecomes increasingly worse, and the temperature of the downstream heatradiator itself becomes increasingly higher, thereby resulting in agreat difference between temperatures of the downstream heat radiatorand the upstream heat radiator, and reducing the performance of aninverter including the heat radiator.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

An inverter heat-dissipation device and an inverter are providedaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure and are directedtoward extending a service life of a centrifugal fan, improving theheat-dissipation effect of a heat radiator, and improving theperformance of an inverter including the heat radiator.

An inverter heat-dissipation device is provided, which includes acentrifugal fan, a first heat radiator, a second heat radiator and anair channel, where

-   -   a first air outlet is arranged at one end of the air channel and        a second air outlet is arranged at the other end of the air        channel;    -   the first heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is in        communication with the first air outlet;    -   the second heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is        in communication with the second air outlet;    -   the centrifugal fan is arranged in the air channel and is        arranged between the first heat radiator and the second heat        radiator;    -   an air inlet matching the centrifugal fan in size is arranged on        the air channel;    -   a first opening is arranged on the air channel, where a first        heating element of an inverter including the inverter        heat-dissipation device is installed onto the first heat        radiator through the first opening; and    -   a second opening is arranged on the air channel, where a second        heating element of the inverter including the inverter        heat-dissipation device is installed onto the second heat        radiator through the second opening.

In an embodiment, the air channel may include an air channel backboardand a U-shaped groove, and the air channel backboard may be installedonto the U-shaped groove.

In an embodiment, the first heat radiator and the second heat radiatormay be installed fixedly at different points on the air channelbackboard; and the centrifugal fan may be installed fixedly on theU-shaped groove.

In an embodiment, the inverter heat-dissipation device may include:

-   -   a third air outlet and a fourth air outlet, where    -   the third air outlet may be arranged on a first lateral surface        of the air channel and may match the centrifugal fan in size;        and    -   the fourth air outlet may be arranged on a second lateral        surface of the air channel opposite to the first lateral surface        and may match the centrifugal fan in size.

Further, an inverter is provided, which includes a first heatingelement, a second heating element and the inverter heat-dissipationdevice described above, where

-   -   the first heating element is installed onto the first heat        radiator of the inverter heat-dissipation device via the first        opening arranged on the air channel of the inverter        heat-dissipation device; and    -   the second heating element is installed onto the second heat        radiator of the inverter heat-dissipation device via the second        opening arranged on the air channel of the inverter        heat-dissipation device.

In an embodiment, the first heating element may be installed onto afirst heat radiator substrate via the first opening arranged on the airchannel of the inverter heat-dissipation device, where the first heatradiator substrate may be a radiator substrate of the first heatradiator; and

-   -   the second heating element may be installed onto a second heat        radiator substrate via the second opening arranged on the air        channel of the inverter heat-dissipation device, where the        second heat radiator substrate may be a radiator substrate of        the second heat radiator.

In an embodiment, a heat conduction silicone may be coated on a contactsurface between the first heating element and the first heat radiatorsubstrate; and

-   -   a heat conduction silicone may be coated on a contact surface        between the second heating element and the second heat radiator        substrate.

In an embodiment, the inverter may further include:

-   -   a third heating element and a fourth heating element, where    -   the third heating element may be arranged above the third air        outlet of the inverter heat-dissipation device; and    -   the fourth heating element may be arranged below the fourth air        outlet of the inverter heat-dissipation device.

In an embodiment, the inverter may further include:

-   -   a first row of air vents facing the third heating element; and    -   a second row of air vents facing the fourth heating element.

As compared with certain conventional technologies, embodiments of thepresent disclosure offer potential benefits hereinafter described.

In embodiment of the present disclosure, the centrifugal fan is disposedbetween the two heat radiators, the first heat radiator is incommunication with the first air outlet, the second heat radiator is incommunication with the second air outlet, and air is drawn in at themiddle portion of the air channel and flows out from two ends of the airchannel. Hence, a length of the air channel (i.e., a distance from theair inlet to the air outlet) is shortened; and a width of the airchannel is increased since the air flows out through the two air outletsof the air channel simultaneously, thereby reducing a pressure lossalong the air channel, reducing a load on the centrifugal fan, andtending therefore to extend the service life of the centrifugal fan.

Since the air is drawn in at the middle portion of the air channel andflows out from two ends of the air channel, the air flowing through eachof the two heat radiators in the air channel is relatively cold air, andthe heat-dissipation effect of the heat radiator is enhanced as a resultof not having hot air flowing through the heat radiator. Problems of toohigh a temperature of the heat radiator itself and thus increasinglyworse heat-dissipation effect due to the hot air continuously flowingthrough the heat radiator in the air channel are also lessened, andhence a difference between temperatures of the two heat radiators in theair channel is not too significant, thereby tending to improve theperformance of the inverter including the heat radiator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings used in the description of the exemplaryembodiments will be described briefly as follows. The appended drawingsare used only to illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings may be obtainedaccording to the disclosure that is provided herein without anyinventive work.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a unidirectionalstraight-through air channel according to the conventional technology;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an inverter heat-dissipationdevice according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another schematic structural diagram of an inverterheat-dissipation device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is still another schematic structural diagram of an inverterheat-dissipation device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inverter according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an inverter according to thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is another schematic structural diagram of an inverter accordingto the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedclearly and completely as follows in conjunction with the appendeddrawings. The described exemplary embodiments are only a few rather thanall of the embodiments according to the present disclosure. Otherembodiments may be obtained by those skilled in the art without anyinventive work based on the detailed description of the exemplaryembodiments presented herein.

First Exemplary Embodiment

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which shows a schematic structural diagramof an inverter heat-dissipation device according to the presentdisclosure. The inverter heat-dissipation device includes a centrifugalfan 11, a first heat radiator 12, a second heat radiator 13 and an airchannel 14.

A first air outlet 141 is arranged at one end of the air channel 14, anda second air outlet 142 is arranged at the other end of the air channel14.

The first heat radiator 12 is arranged in the air channel 14 and is incommunication with the first air outlet 141.

The second heat radiator 13 is arranged in the air channel 14 and is incommunication with the second air outlet 142.

The centrifugal fan 11 is arranged in the air channel 14 and is arrangedbetween the first heat radiator 12 and the second heat radiator 13.

An air inlet 143 matching the centrifugal fan 11 in size is arranged onthe air channel 14.

A first opening is arranged on the air channel 14, where a first heatingelement of an inverter including the inverter heat-dissipation device isinstalled onto the first heat radiator 12 through the first opening.

A second opening is arranged on the air channel 14, where a secondheating element of the inverter including the inverter heat-dissipationdevice is installed onto the second heat radiator 13 through the secondopening.

In an embodiment, the centrifugal fan 11 is arranged in the air channel14 and is arranged between the first heat radiator 12 and the secondheat radiator 13. The first heat radiator 12 is arranged at one end ofthe air channel 14, and the second heat radiator 13 is arranged at theother end of the air channel 14. After being drawn into the air channel14 by the centrifugal fan 11, the cold air flows to the left and rightthrough the first heat radiator 12 and the second heat radiator 13respectively, and then flows out of the air channel through the airoutlet 141 and the air outlet 142.

In this embodiment, the centrifugal fan is disposed between the two heatradiators, the first heat radiator is in communication with the firstair outlet, the second heat radiator is in communication with the secondair outlet, and air is drawn in at the middle portion of the air channeland flows out from two ends of the air channel. Hence, a length of theair channel (i.e., a distance from the air inlet to the air outlet) isshortened; and a width of the air channel is increased since the airflows out through the two air outlets of the air channel simultaneously,thereby reducing a pressure loss along the air channel, reducing a loadon the centrifugal fan, and thereby tending to extend the service lifeof the centrifugal fan.

Since the air is drawn in at the middle portion of the air channel andflows out from two ends of the air channel, the air flowing through eachof the two heat radiators in the air channel is relatively cold air, andthe heat-dissipation effect of the heat radiator is enhanced as a resultof not having hot air flowing through the heat radiator. Problems of toohigh a temperature of the heat radiator itself and thus increasinglyworse heat-dissipation effect due to the hot air continuously flowingthrough the heat radiator in the air channel are also lessened, andhence a difference between temperatures of the two heat radiators in theair channel is not too significant, thereby tending to improve theperformance of the inverter including the heat radiator.

Furthermore, with the inverter heat-dissipation device according to thepresent disclosure, the pressure loss along the air channel is reduced,the requirement for a configuration of the centrifugal fan 11 isreduced, and hence the centrifugal fan 11 with higher cost-effectivenessmay be selected, thereby reducing a cost of the centrifugal fan 11.

In an embodiment, the air channel 14 includes an air channel backboard144 and a U-shaped groove 145.

The air channel backboard 144 is installed onto the U-shaped groove 145.

In a case that the air channel 14 is composed of the air channelbackboard 144 and the U-shaped groove 145, the centrifugal fan 11, thefirst heat radiator 12 and the second heat radiator 13 in the inverterheat-dissipation device shown in FIG. 2 are arranged as follows.

The first heat radiator 12 and the second heat radiator 13 are installedfixedly at different points on the air channel backboard 144, and thecentrifugal fan 11 is installed fixedly on the U-shaped groove 145, asshown in FIG. 3.

In an embodiment, the inverter heat-dissipation device further includesa third air outlet 15 and a fourth air outlet 16, as shown in FIG. 4.

The third air outlet 15 is arranged on a first lateral surface of theair channel 14 and matches the centrifugal fan 11 in size.

The fourth air outlet 16 is arranged on a second lateral surface of theair channel 14 opposite to the first lateral surface and matches thecentrifugal fan 11 in size.

In a case that the inverter heat-dissipation device is installed on theinverter, the third air outlet 15 and the fourth air outlet 16 areconfigured to blow and cool heating elements other than the firstheating element and the second heating element.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which shows a schematic sectional view ofan inverter according to the present disclosure. The inverter includes afirst heating element 51, a second heating element 52 and an inverterheat-dissipation device 53.

The inverter heat-dissipation device 53 is the inverter heat-dissipationdevice described in the first exemplary embodiment, which therefore neednot be further described here.

The first heating element 51 is installed onto the first heat radiator12 of the inverter heat-dissipation device 53 via the first openingarranged on the air channel 14 of the inverter heat-dissipation device53.

The second heating element 52 is installed onto the second heat radiator13 of the inverter heat-dissipation device 53 via the second openingarranged on the air channel 14 of the inverter heat-dissipation device53.

In an embodiment, the first heating element 51 is installed onto a firstheat radiator substrate via the first opening arranged on the airchannel 14 of the inverter heat-dissipation device 53, and the firstheat radiator substrate is a radiator substrate of the first heatradiator 12.

The second heating element 52 is installed onto a second heat radiatorsubstrate via the second opening arranged on the air channel 14 of theinverter heat-dissipation device 53, and the second heat radiatorsubstrate is a radiator substrate of the second heat radiator 13.

Further, a heat conduction silicone is coated on a contact surfacebetween the first heating element 51 and the first heat radiatorsubstrate; and a heat conduction silicone is coated on a contact surfacebetween the second heating element 52 and the second heat radiatorsubstrate.

In an embodiment, a front-back box partition 23 of the inverter mayfunction as the air channel backboard 144, as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7.

In a case that the front-back box partition 23 functions as the airchannel backboard 144, the centrifugal fan 11, the first heat radiator12 and the second heat radiator 13 in the inverter heat-dissipationdevice shown in FIG. 2 are arranged as follows.

The first heat radiator 12 and the second heat radiator 13 are installedfixedly at different points on the front-back box partition 23, and thecentrifugal fan 11 is installed fixedly on the U-shaped groove 145.

The first heat radiator 12 fits on the front-back box partition 23 andis sealed, and the second heat radiator 13 fits on the front-back boxpartition 23 and is sealed, thereby ensuring that a front box has asealing performance with a high IP class (greater than or equal toIP65).

In an embodiment, openings with respective sizes are arranged on thefront-back box partition 23, for installing the first heating element 51onto the first heat radiator 12 and installing the heating element 52onto the second heat radiator 13.

The first heating element 51 and the second heating element 52 arearranged in a front box 21, and the inverter heat-dissipation device 53is arranged in a back box 22.

The back box 22 is an open box, and other elements and members than theinverter heat-dissipation device 53 may also be placed on the back box22, for example an electrical element and member, such as an inductor, atransformer, a fan and a pegboard. It should be noted that, theelectrical elements, such as the inductor and the transformer, need tobe filled and sealed or processed in other ways, so as to meet an IPclass requirement for exposing to the atmospheric environment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inverter according to the present disclosure mayfurther include a third heating element 71 and a fourth heating element72.

The third heating element 71 is arranged above the third air outlet 15in the inverter heat-dissipation device.

The fourth heating element 72 is arranged below the fourth air outlet 16in the inverter heat-dissipation device.

The number of the third heating elements 71 may be greater than or equalto one.

The number of the fourth heating elements 72 may be greater than orequal to one.

Accordingly, the inverter may further include a first row of air vents73 facing the third heating element 71 and a second row of air vents 74facing the fourth heating element 72.

The third heating element 71 and the fourth heating element 72 dissipateheat through their surfaces without a heat radiator. The third heatingelement 71 discharges hot air and dissipates heat via the third airoutlet 15, and the fourth heating element 72 discharges hot air anddissipates heat through the fourth air outlet 16. Hot air generated dueto heat-dissipation of the third heating element 71 is discharged to theexternal atmospheric environment via the first row of air vents 73, andhot air generated due to heat-dissipation of the fourth heating element72 is discharged to the external atmospheric environment via the secondrow of air vents 74.

In the discussion above, the embodiments are described in progressivemanner. Each embodiment mainly focuses on an aspect difference fromother embodiments, and reference can be made to these similar partsamong the embodiments. The device disclosed in the embodimentcorresponds to the method disclosed in the embodiment, and is describedrelatively simply. For detailed description of the device, reference maybe made to the related description of the method.

Finally, it should be further noted that the relationship terminologiessuch as “first”, “second” and the like are only used herein todistinguish one entity or operation from another, rather than tonecessitate or imply that the actual relationship or order existsbetween the entities or operations. Furthermore, terms of “include”,“comprise” or any other variants are intended to be non-exclusive.Therefore, a process, method, article or device that is said to includeor comprise a plurality of elements includes not only the specifiedelements but may also include other elements that are not enumerated, oralso include the elements inherent for the process, method, article ordevice. Unless expressively limited otherwise, the statement “comprising(including) one . . . ” does not exclude the case that other similarelements may exist in the process, method, article or device.

The inverter heat-dissipation device and the inverter according to thepresent disclosure are described in detail above. Principles andimplementations are clarified using specific embodiments describedherein. The above description of the embodiments is only intended tohelp teach an understanding of the apparatus and methods of the presentdisclosure. In addition, changes can be made to the specific exemplaryembodiments by those skilled in the art based on the teachings of thepresent disclosure. In summary, the specification should not beinterpreted as limiting the breadth of the present disclosure.

1. An inverter heat-dissipation device, comprising a centrifugal fan, afirst heat radiator, a second heat radiator and an air channel, whereina first air outlet is arranged at one end of the air channel and asecond air outlet is arranged at the other end of the air channel; thefirst heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is incommunication with the first air outlet; the second heat radiator isarranged in the air channel and is in communication with the second airoutlet; the centrifugal fan is arranged in the air channel and ispositioned between the first heat radiator and the second heat radiator;an air inlet matching the centrifugal fan in size is arranged on the airchannel; a first opening is arranged on the air channel, wherein a firstheating element of an inverter comprising the inverter heat-dissipationdevice is installed onto the first heat radiator; and a second openingis arranged on the air channel, wherein a second heating element of theinverter comprising the inverter heat-dissipation device is installedonto the second heat radiator.
 2. The inverter heat-dissipation deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the air channel comprises an air channelbackboard and a U-shaped groove, and the air channel backboard isinstalled onto the U-shaped groove.
 3. The inverter heat-dissipationdevice according to claim 2, wherein the first heat radiator and thesecond heat radiator are installed fixedly at different points on theair channel backboard; and the centrifugal fan is installed fixedly onthe U-shaped groove.
 4. The inverter heat-dissipation device accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a third air outlet and a fourth airoutlet, wherein the third air outlet is arranged on a first lateralsurface of the air channel and matches the centrifugal fan in size; andthe fourth air outlet is arranged on a second lateral surface of the airchannel opposite to the first lateral surface and matches thecentrifugal fan in size.
 5. The inverter heat-dissipation deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising: a third air outlet and afourth air outlet, wherein the third air outlet is arranged on a firstlateral surface of the air channel and matches the centrifugal fan insize; and the fourth air outlet is arranged on a second lateral surfaceof the air channel opposite to the first lateral surface and matches thecentrifugal fan in size.
 6. The inverter heat-dissipation deviceaccording to claim 3, further comprising: a third air outlet and afourth air outlet, wherein the third air outlet is arranged on a firstlateral surface of the air channel and matches the centrifugal fan insize; and the fourth air outlet is arranged on a second lateral surfaceof the air channel opposite to the first lateral surface and matches thecentrifugal fan in size.
 7. An inverter, comprising a first heatingelement, a second heating element and an inverter heat-dissipationdevice comprising a centrifugal fan, a first heat radiator, a secondheat radiator and an air channel, wherein a first air outlet is arrangedat one end of the air channel and a second air outlet is arranged at theother end of the air channel; the first heat radiator is arranged in theair channel and is in communication with the first air outlet; thesecond heat radiator is arranged in the air channel and is incommunication with the second air outlet; the centrifugal fan isarranged in the air channel and is arranged between the first heatradiator and the second heat radiator; an air inlet matching thecentrifugal fan in size is arranged on the air channel; a first openingis arranged on the air channel, wherein a first heating element of aninverter comprising the inverter heat-dissipation device is installedonto the first heat radiator; and a second opening is arranged on theair channel, wherein a second heating element of the inverter comprisingthe inverter heat-dissipation device is installed onto the second heatradiator, wherein the first heating element is installed onto the firstheat radiator of the inverter heat-dissipation device; and the secondheating element is installed onto the second heat radiator of theinverter heat-dissipation device.
 8. The inverter according to claim 7,wherein the first heating element is installed onto a first heatradiator substrate, wherein the first heat radiator substrate is a heatradiator substrate of the first heat radiator; and the second heatingelement is installed onto a second heat radiator substrate, wherein thesecond heat radiator substrate is a heat radiator substrate of thesecond heat radiator.
 9. The inverter according to claim 8, wherein aheat conduction silicone is coated on a contact surface between thefirst heating element and the first heat radiator substrate; and a heatconduction silicone is coated on a contact surface between the secondheating element and the second heat radiator substrate.
 10. The inverteraccording to claim 8, further comprising: a third heating element and afourth heating element, wherein the third heating element is arrangedabove the third air outlet of the inverter heat-dissipation device; andthe fourth heating element is arranged below the fourth air outlet ofthe inverter heat-dissipation device.
 11. The inverter according toclaim 10, further comprising: a first row of air vents facing the thirdheating element; and a second row of air vents facing the fourth heatingelement.